Continental To Let Passengers Purchase Carbon Credits To Offset The Environmental Impact Of Air Travel

By consumeristcareyJune 2, 2007

Starting this summer, Continental will offer passengers the ability to buy carbon credits to offset the environmental cost of their travel. Though airlines contribute to global warming, air travel is one of the most carbon-efficient ways to cross long distances.

[Continental’s] program, being carried out with Sustainable Travel International and announced Wednesday, will let fliers calculate the so-called carbon footprint of their trips’ greenhouse gas emissions and buy carbon offsets online from Sustainable Travel.

The nonprofit business then invests the proceeds in projects such as reforestation, renewable energy and energy conservation. For domestic flights, the cost of offsetting ranges from $10 to $30 or more per flight, according to Brian Mullis, president of Sustainable Travel.

Would you buy credits to offset your carbon footprint? Tell us in the comments. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER